Coating compositions

ABSTRACT

Coating compositions resistant to yellowing, solvents, acids and alkalies and having the combination of high elasticity and good hardness are produced by using a mixture of A. AN AMINOPLAST AND B. A POLYESTER HAVING AN AVERAGE WEIGHT MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF 6003,000 OF I. an alcohol mixture which contains an aliphatic polyol having 3-4 hydroxy groups and three to six carbon atoms and a mixture which includes one or both of ethylene glycol and 1,2propanediol, and II. an acid mixture which consists essentially of 91-33 percent of a cyclic dicarboxylic acid and 9-67 percent of an acylic dicarboxylic acid.

United States Patent Riemhofer et al.

[ 51 Sept. 12, 1972 COATING COMPOSITIONS [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 868,910

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 25, 1968 Germany ..P 18 05 187.1 Oct. 25, 1968 Germany ..P 18 05 188.2 Oct. 25, 1968 Germany ..P 18 05 195.1

[52] US. Cl ..260/850,117/132 BF, 117/161 LN,

260/33.4 R, 260/33.6 R, 260/39 R, 260/40 R, 260/75 R, 260/75 N [51] Int. Cl. ..C08g 37/34 [58] Field of Search ..260/850, 75

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,437,657 3/1948 West et al ..260/850 2,901,465 8/1959 Sample ..260/850 2,915,486 12/1959 Shelley ..260/850 2,936,296 5/ 1960 Precopio et al ..260/850 3,108,089 10/ l 963 Ferstandig ..260/850 3,310,512 3/1967 Curtile ..260/850 3,428,478 2/1969 Donaldson et a1 ..260/850 3,461,186 8/1969 Galiano et a1. ..260/850 3,476,697 1 l/ 1969 Clements ..260/850 Primary Examiner-John C. Bleutge Attorney-J. William Millen [5 7] ABSTRACT Coating compositions resistant to yellowing, solvents, acids and alkalies and having the combination of high elasticity and good hardness are produced by using a mixture of a. an aminoplast and b. a polyester having an average weight molecular weight of 600-3,000 of 1. an alcohol mixture which contains an aliphatic polyol having 3-4 hydroxy groups and three to six carbon atoms and a mixture which includes one or both of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol, and 11. an acid mixture which consists essentially of 91-33 percent of a cyclic dicarboxylic acid and 9-67 percent of an acylic dicarboxylic acid.

21 Claims, No Drawings COATING COMPOSITIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to coating compositions containing as the binder a mixture consisting of an aminoplast and a polyester.

It is known that so-called oil-free alkyd resins in combination with aminoplasts are suitable for the production of varnish films. The varnish films produced from these polyesters are said to exhibit excellent hardness, at a given flexibility, and in this connection, the polyesters of neopentyl glycol and the polyesters prepared, with the use of glycidyl esters, from monocarboxylic acids which contain nine to 11 carbons atoms, and whose carbon chain is branched in the a-position to the carboxyl group, are reported to be especially superior (H. L. Gerhardt and E. E. Parker, Ind. Engng. Chem. 59, No. 8, 42 [1967]).

Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 2 860 119 and in the publication of D. L. Edwards, D.C. Finney and P. T. von Bramer in Deutsche Frabenzeitschrift, 20, 519 (1966), oil-free alkyd resins are described having as their'base diols or polyols with a neopentyl structure which, after cross-linking with aminoplasts, are said to result in varnish films with a good resistance to chemicals, great hardness and good flexibility. However, such oil-free alkyd resins can be produced only with difficulty. Moreover, although they are hard, they exhibit a relatively lowe elasticity, as shown in comparative Example 1, below.

It is known from US. Pat. No. 3 207 715 that polyesters of trimellitic anhydride, neopentyl glycol and adipic acid, in combination with tetrakis (alkoxymethyl) benzoguanamines, result in varnish films which are said to exhibit a good resistance to chemicals and good flexibility. However, the values reported in this patent demonstrate that although the flexibility of these varnish films is improved, the absolute values thereof are still very low.

U.S. Pat. No. 3 158 584 described alkyd resins of a phthalic acid, a polyvalent alcohol and a dimer of an unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid containing 14-22 carbon atoms, which, in combination with aminoplasts, results in varnish films having both hardness and elasticity. However, the thus produced varnish films have a strong tendency to yellow and do notexhibit adequate resistance to solvents.

In US. Pat. No. 2 460 I85, polyesters of 2-ethylhexanediol-l,3 are described as plasticizers for urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde condensation products. The coatings obtained in accordance with the disclosure of this patent, although flexible and impactresistant, are relatively soft, as shown in comparative Example 2, below.

In the company leaflet l,4-Cyclohexanedimethanol of Eastman Kodak Company, July 1965, oil-free alkyd resins produced from pelargonic acid, phthalic acid anhydride, pentaerythritol, n'eopentyl glycol and l,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane are described and said to be both and elastic. However, these polyesters do not fulfill the requirements expected of them, as shown by comparative Example 3,

below.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, coating compositions having high elasticity and good hardness and which are resistant to yellowing are produced by the use of an aminoplast-polyester mixture as a binder in which the polyesters have an average molecular weight of between 600 and 3,000 and are produced by the esterification of I. an alcohol mixture consisting of 1. 1-33 molar percent, of a polyol component which consists of at least one aliphatic polyol having three to four hydroxyl groups and three to six carbon atoms, and 2. 99-67 molar percent, of a diol component which consists os of i. 100-0 molar percent of ethylene glycol, and 0-100 molar percent of 1,2-propanediol and ii. optionally, up to 30 molar percent preferably up to 20 molar percent, of the total amount of the total diol component of one or more other aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols whose hydroxyl functions are separated by two to eight carbon atoms and up to two of the carbon atoms of which in the chain are substituted by oxygen atoms which are separated from each other by at least two carbon atoms, and

11. an acid mixture consisting of:

1. 91-33 molar percent, preferably -40 molar percent, at least one aromatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid or functional acid derivative thereof convertible to an ester of the alcohol mixture, and I 2. 9-67' molar percent, preferably 25-60 molar percent, of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic .acid of 4-12 carbon atoms, or functional acid derivative thereof convertible to an ester of the alcohol mixture. 3

I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Aminoplast Component Aminoplasts are a conventional component in coating compositions. Many of these have the formula NHCH OR wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl or one to four carbonatoms and the unsatisfied valence isan organic moiety. Examples are the condensation products of aldehydes, particularly formaldehyde, with several aminoor amido-group-carrying substances, such as, for example, with melamine, urea, N,N'- ethyleneurea, dicyanodiamide, and benzoguanamine. There can also be used polymers having the structure of copolymerizates into which is polymerized an amide of an a-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having N-methyloland/or N-methylol-ether groups, for example, such polymers which are obtained following the methods described in the US. Pat. No. 2,940,944 and the German Pat. Applications Nos. 1,060,596, 1,083,548 and 1,089,549. 7

Reaction products of polymers containing hydroxyl groups and alkoxymethyl isocyanates can also be utilized. Mixtures of such products are also suitable.

Especially advantageous are the aminoplasts which are modified with alcohols, preferably alkanols of one to four carbon atoms. In place of these resinuous of aminoplasts are, for example, dimethylol urea,

tetramethylolbenzoguanamine, trimethylol melamine or hexamethyol melamine, which can also be employed in a partially or completely etherified form, for example, as dimethoxymethyl urea, tetrakis(methoxymethyl)benzoguanamine, tetrakis(ethoxymethyl)- benzoguanamine, or polyethers of hexamethylol melamine, such as hexakis(methoxymethyl)melamine or hexakis(butoxymethyl)melamine.

Thus, a wide variety of commercially available aminoplasts can be used for combining with the special polyesters of the present invention. For more details regarding the amino-plasts which can be used, reference is made to Organic Protective Coatins, Von Fischer and Bobaleck, 1953, Reinhold, pages 210-225; Lackkunstharze by H. Wagner and l-LF. Sarx, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munchen, 4th Edition, 1959, pages 60-74. Of course, it is also possible to use mixtures of all the above N-methylol products. In general then, any compound of the formula -NH-CH O -R can be used wherein R represents hydrogen or alkyl or one to four carbon atoms, and the unsatisfied nitrogen valence is attached to an organic moiety capable of incorporation into a film and which does not interfere with the curing reaction.

It is also possible to improve the miscibility of the resinous aminoplasts and the polyesters to be employed according to the invention, as well as their compatibility during the baking step, by adding to the mixture of the solutions of polyester and aminoplast certain amounts (up to 50 percent be weight, based onthe total amount of solvent) of high-boiling polar solvents for both resins, such as, for example, ethyl glycol, ethyl glycol acetate, butyl glycol, or cylcohexanone, or, preferably, by reacting the polyester and the aminoplast in a conventional manner in substance, or preferably, in solution ,with each other; in this connection, care must be taken that the reaction does not progress until cross-linking occurs. This can be effected, for example, by heating the mixture, or the common solution of the two resins, for a short time, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, such as, for example, organic or mineral acids.

It is also possible to add the polyesters to be employed in accordance with the invention to the charge prior to or during the preparation of the aminoplast resins from substances containing several amino and/or amido groups, such as, e.g., urea, benzoguanamine or melamine, and aldehydes, such as, for example, formaldehyde. In this connection, it is, of course, likewise possible to employ concommitantly and additionally customary alcohols for the modification of the thusformed plasticized aminoplast resins. The methods for the production of such plasticized amino-aldehyde resins for solvent-containing as well as aqueous varnish systems are known; a plurality of suitable operating directives can be found in the literature (see, for example, Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie [Methods of Organic Chemistry], 4th Edition, Vol. 14/2, pp. 319 et seq., Georg Thieme Publishers, Stuttgart, 1963, or Ullmanns Encyclopaedie der technischen Chemie [Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Technical Chemistry], 3rd Edition, Vol, 3, pp. 475 et seq., Urban & Schwarzenberg, Munich 1953). For purposes of combining with the polyesters employed in accordance with the invention, a plurality of commercial aminoplasts or the defined precursors thereof are available.

B. Polyester Components The polyester component is a mixture of polyesters having an average molecular weight between 600 3000 produced by the esterification of an alcohol mixture and an acid mixture as defined below. Preferred are those having a molecular weight of 800 -2500. Especially preferred are those having a molecular weight between 1000 and 2000.

Coating compositions exhibiting particularly good properties are obtained with polyesters containing predominantly hydroxy groups, i.e., those produced with a molar excess of the alcohol mixture over the acid mixture, e.g., those having an hydroxyl number of 40 to 220, preferably 60 to KOl-l/g, and an acid number of l to 7, preferably 2 to 5 mg.KOH/g.

The polyesters are produced by the esterification of an alcohol mixture and an acid mixture as defined hereinafter.

1. Alcohol Mixture The alcohol mixture used to form the polyester component of the coating compositions contains a polyol component and a diol component.

1. Polyol Component The polyol component constitutes l-33 molar percent of the alcohol mixture. It can contain one or several polyols having three to four hydroxy groups and three to six carbon atoms.

Suitable polyols are, for example, trimethylol-ethane, trimethylolpropane taerythritol. Of these glycerin is preferred. 2. Diol Component The diol component constitutes 99-67 molar percent of the alcohol mixture and consists of i. one or both of ethylene glycol and l,2-propanediol,

and

ii. optionally, up to 30 molar percent preferably up to 20 molar percent of the total amount of the total diol component of one or more other aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols whose hydroxyl functions are separated by two to eight carbon atoms and up to two 'of the carbon atoms of which in the chain are substituted by oxygen atoms which are separated from each other by at least two carbon atoms.

Examples for diols which can be present in the diol component along with the mixture of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol are acyclic aliphatic diols, e.g., 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,3- butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-l ,3- propanediol, l,6-hexanediol 2-ethylhexanediolglycerin, and penl,3cycloaliphatic diols, e.g., 1,2-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-

cyclohexanediol, l,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane, l ,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane, l ,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexane; .x,8-bis(hydroxymethyl)tricyclo-[5 .2. l .0 ]-decane wherein x represents 3,4, or 5, diols containing one or more oxygen atoms in the chain, e.g., diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol or tripropylene glycol. In general, these diols contain three to, preferably carbon atoms. Cycloaliphatic diols can be employed in their cis or trans configuration, or as a mixture of both forms.

(II) Acid Mixture The acid mixture used to form the polyester component of the coating composition of this invention consists essentially of a mixture of a cyclic dicarboxylic acid component and an acyclic dicarboxylic acid component.

i. Cyclic Acid Component The acid mixture contains 9 l-3l, preferably 75-40, molar percent of one or more aromatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids or their functional acid derivatives.

Examples for suitable aromatic and cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids are phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, hexahydroterephthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, hexahydroisophthalic acid, as

well as endomethyleneand endoethylenetetrahydrophthalic acid, hexachloroendomethylenetetrahydrophthalic acid or tetrabromophthalic acid. The cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids can be employed in their trans or cis configuration or as a mixture of both forms. The use of dicarboxylic acids wherein the carboxyl groups are arranged in the l,2- or in the 1,3-position is preferred. Especially preferred are those dicarboxylic acids wherein the carboxyl groups are arranged in the l,2-position. Of these, phthalic acid and hexahydrophthalic acid are especially preferred. In general, the cyclic dicarboxylic acids contain eight to 12 carbon atoms, preferably eight to carbon atoms. The carbocyclic dicarboxylic acids are preferred, especially the monocyclic carbocyclic, e.g., wherein the ring is a benzene, cyclohexane or bridged cyclohexane ring.

ii Acyclic Acid Component The acid mixture contains 9-67, preferably 25-60 molar percent 'of one or more acyclic dicarboxylic acids containing carbon atoms or their functional acid derivatives.

Particularly suitable aliphatic dicarboxylic acids are succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, decanedicarboxylic acid and 2,2,4- trimethyladipic acid. Although one can use unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, such as, for example, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid or citraconic acid, saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, e.g., of four to six carbon atoms are preferred, particularly adipic acid.

In place of the cyclic and/or acyclic dicarboxylic acids themselves, it is possible and often preferable to use a functional acid derivative thereof. For example, instead of the free dicarboxylic acids, esters thereof with lower-alkanols can also be employed, e.g., the dimethyl, diethyl or dipropyl ester. The anhydrides of the dicarboxylic acids can likewise be employed, e.g., phthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, glutaric anhydride and maleic anhydride. Of the anhydrides, phthalic anhydride is preferred.

The following polyesters produce coatings having particularly excellent properties.

I. Polyesters produced from an alcohol mixture consisting of 10-30 molar percent of the polyol component and 90-70 molar percent or a diol component consisting of a mixture of -100 molar percent, preferably -100 molar percent, of ethylene glycol and 80-0 molar percent, preferably 20-0 molar percent, of l,2-propanediol and/or one or more of the above-defined other saturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols. Preferred among this group of polyesters are those in which the diol mixture consists entirely of ethylene glycol exclusively, or a mixture of ethylene glycol with l,2-propanediol.

. Polyesters produced from an alcohol mixture consisting of 1-20 molar percent, preferably 5-l5 molar percent of the polyol component and 99-80 molar percent, preferably -85 molar percent of a diol component consisting of .a mixture of 70-100 molar percent, preferably 80-100 molar percent, of l,2-propanediol, and 30-0 molar percent, preferably 20-0 molar percent, of ethylene glycol and/or one or more ofthe above-defined other saturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols, Preferred among this group of polyesters are those in which the diol mixture consists entirely of polyesters are those in which the diol mixture consists entirely of l,2-propanediol, or of a mixture of l,2-propanediol with ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or dipropylene glycol.

3. Polyesters produced from an alcohol mixture consisting of [-25 molar percent, preferably 5-20 molar percent, of the polyol component and 99-75 molar percent, preferably 95-80 molar percent, of a diol component consisting of a mixture of 70-30 molar percent, preferably 60-40 molar percent, of ethylene glycol and 30-70 molar percent, preferably 40-60 molar percent, of 1,2- propanediol, wherein optionally up to 30 molar percent, preferably up to 20 molar percent, of the total amount of said diol component can be substituted by one or more of the'above-defined other aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols. Preferred among this group of polyesters are those in which the alcohol mixture consists of 5-l5 molar percent of the polyol component and 95-85 molar percent of the diol component, especially those in-which the diol component consists of a mixture of ethylene glycol and l,2-propanediol.

POLYESTER PRODUCTION The polyesters can be produced according to conventional and customary processes, e.g., with or without a catalyst, with or without the introduction of an inert gas stream as solution condensation in a solvent, as a melt condensation'or azeotropic esterification, at temperatures of up to 250 C., or higher so that the water or alkanol produced by the esterification is continuously removed. The esterification takes place almost quantitatively and can be followed by measuring the hydroxyl and acid numbers. The molecular weight of the polyester can be regulated in a simple manner by charging the molar ratio of the alcohol mixture to the dicarboxylic acid mixture. In this connection, to produce polyester having predominantly hydroxyl groups, (n m 1) mols of dicarboxylic acid are employed per n mols of diol and rn mols of polyol. If it is intended to produce polyester containing predominantly carboxyl groups, the amount of dicarboxylic acid to be employed is calculated according to the formula M n m(xl) 1, wherein M is the molar produce a polyester containing carboxyl groups from n mols of diol and m mols of a polyol containing x hydroxyl groups. Usually, the esterification conditions are selected so that the reaction is as complete as possible, i.e., in case of runs for the production of polyesters containing hydroxyl groups until the acid number is smaller than 7 mg. KOl-l/g. In case of runs for the r production of polyesters containing carboxyl groups,

the esterification is continued until the hydroxyl number is below 7 mg. KOH/g.

The esterification temperature is selected so that the losses of readily volatile substances remain small, i.e., during at least the first period of the esterification, the process is conducted at a temperature below the boiling point of the lowest-boiling starting substance.

When producing thepolyesters, it must be kept in mind that the molecular weight of the polyester as well as the composition thereof affect the properties of the varnish films prepared therefrom. At higher average molecular weights, the hardness of the varnish film is, in general, reduced, whereas the elasticity increases. At lower molecular weights, the flexibility of the varnish film is decreased and the hardness increased. Differences in the composition of the polyester have similar effects; With a higher proportion of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and with a longer chain length of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, the elasticity of the varnish film increases, whereas its hardness is decreased. Conversely, with an increasing proportion of aromatic and/or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids in the polyester, the varnish film becomes harder and less flexible. A similar influence is exerted by the acyclic diols. With an increasing chain length of the open chain diols, and with a rising proportion of these diols in the polyester, the varnish film becomes softer and more flexible. With an increasing proportion of diols with short and branched carbon chains or with cycloaliphatic rings in the polyester, the varnish films produced from these polyesters normally become harder and less elastic. Also, the molar ratio of polyol to diol is of importance relative to the mechanical properties of the varnish films. With a decreasing molar ratio of polyol to diol, the hardness of the films likewise decreases and the elasticity thereof is increased. Co'nversely, at higher molar ratios of polyol to diol, the flexibility of the varnish films is reduced and the hardness thereof is improved. Knowing these rules, it is possible without difficulty to select, within the scope of the claimed range, polyesters exhibiting properties which are optimum for the respective purpose for which the coating compositions of this invention are employed.

AMlNOPLAST-POLYESTER MIXTURE To produce the coating compositions of this invention, the polyester and the aminoplast or precursor thereof are normally first dissolved in conventional varnish solvents, such as, for example, propanol, isopropanol, butanol ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl glycol, ethyl glycol acetate, butyl glycol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, trichloroethylene, or mixtures of various ones of such solvents. It is possible and advisable for economical reasons to also employ additionally more or less large amounts of less polar solvents, e.g., benzene, toluene, xylene or higher-boiling aromatic cuts. The amount of these less polar solvents employed can be selected as desired within the scope of the solubility of the selected polyesters therein and their compatibility with the aminoplasts which are employed, e.g., up to percent and higher of the total solvent mixture. When using polyesters having a high acid number i.e., polyesters containing a significant number of non-esterified carboxyl groups, it is also possible to produce aqueous solutions. This can be done in accordance with conventional and customary techniques (see, for example, W.A. Riese, Loeserfreie Anstrichsysteme [Solvent- Free Coating Systems], Curt R. Vincentz Publishers, Hannover, I967, pp.432 et seq.). In this connection, carboxyl groups are normally neutralized entirely or partially with amines and, optionally, water-miscible solvents are simultaneously employed which serve as solubilizers. Of course, when producing aqueous varnish solutions, it is necessary to utilize water-soluble aminoplasts. The hereinabove-defined precursors of the aminoplasts are particularly suitable for this purpose.

The weight ratio of polyester to the aminoplast can vary between 50:50 and :10, end-use between 65:35 and 85:15. The ratio which is optimum for the selected end use purpose of the varnishes can be readily determined by a small number of preliminary experiments. Often, by increasing the proportion of aminoplast to polyester, the hardness of the varnish films is increased and the elasticity thereof is lessened, whereas when lowering the aminoplast to polyester proportion, the hardness decreases and the flexiblity becomes larger.

The total amount of binder contained in the varnishes can be varied within customary limits, depending on the end-us application.

The varnishes can contain the conventional additives and auxiliary agents, for example, pigments, flow agents, and additional other binders, such as, for example, epoxy resins and silicone resins, the latter containing hydroxyl groups.

The thus-obtained varnish is applied and baked at temperatures of between and 250 C. The crosslinking reactions taking place during this process are catalytically accelerated by means of acids. When using polyesters having a very low acid number, it is thus possible to add acidic substances to the varnish. By the addition of 0.5 percent of p-toluenesulfonic acid (based on the total binder), for example, the cross-linking reaction is greatly accelerated. With the addition of larger amounts of acid, coatings can also be produced which dry at room temperature.

The acid number of the polyester can also be subsequently increased by reacting a polyester low in acid with about l-5 percent of an anhydride of a relatively strong dicarboxylic acid, for example, maleic anhydride, thus, the baking temperatures can be lowered even without the addition of strongly acidic substances.

The coatings produced in accordance with this invention exhibit many good properties. They have a high gloss, can be very well pigmented, and show an excellent resistance against yellowing, as demonstrated by a heat aging treatment of 72 hours at 150 C. When subjecting the coatings to heat aging of 72 hours at 100 C., no visible yellowing can be detected. The coatings are resistant to solvents, e.g., xylene, petroleum etherbenzene mixtures, esters and ketones. Moreover, they exhibit good resistance to acid and alkali. ln salt spray tests, tropical condition tests, and tests in the Weather- Ometer, they show an excellent corrosion-protective effect and weatherproofness.

However, the most outstanding property of the coatings of this invention is their combination of great elasticity and high hardness, which is retained even on baking.

The elastic behavior of coatings is usually determined by the Erichsen depression test (in accordance with German Industrial Standard ]DIN] 53,156) using as a standard of elasticity, the depression (in mm.) of an enameled sheet metal at which the varnish coating cracks. An essential element of this testing method is that the deformation of the coating takes place slowly (advancement: 0.2 mm./sec.).

The impact depression measure ment gives an indication of the reaction of the coatings to sudden deformation. This measurement can be conducted, for example, with the impact depression device 226/D of the Erichsen company, Hemer-Sundwig. in this device, a hemisphere having a radius of 10mm. is suddenly impacted by a falling 8 kg. weight into a metal sheet on the back of the varnish-coated side. Byvarying the height of the falling weight, the depression can be varied. The impact depression value is the depth (in mm.) of the depression at which the varnish coating cracks. The values given in the examples were obtained in this manner. In several examples, the value is stated to be mm., since the above-described test cannot make a greater depression in the 1 mm. thick deepdrawn metal sheets employed in the test.

As has been set forth in connection with the discussion of the state of the art, and as has been proven by comparative tests, coatings of polyesters and aminoplasts have been conventional which are flexible and also withstand impact stresses. However, these coatings exhibit very low hardness values (according to DIN 53,157). On the other hand, coatings of great hardness are known which, however, exhibit a low elasticity, or none at all, or which, although elastic, have a number of other disadvantages, such as a tendency to yellow and an unsatisfactory solvent re,- sistance. In contrast thereto, the coatings obtained in accordance with the invention exhibit a high elasticity as well as great harness and do not have any of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

This array of properties opens up a versatile range of applications to the coatings. In addition to being employed for varnishing individual parts, exposed to impact stresses, one important aspect is, above all, the varnishing of materials which are post'formed for example by punching.

Therefore, the coating compositions of this invention may be used for vanishing or enameling of e.g., automobile bodies, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.;

also they are suited for coil-coating. The coatings produced in accordance with this invention may be applied by different modes, e.g., spraying, dipping, brushing and wiping.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiment are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the specification and claims in any way of whatsoever.

Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages and ratios are on a weight basis.

PREPARATlON OF THE POLYESTER A mixture of 248 g. of ethylene glycol (4 mols), 228 g. of 1,2-propanediol (3 mols), 92 g. of glycerin (1 mol), 666 g.of phthalic anhydride (4.5 mols) and 365 g. of adipic acid (2.5 mols) is heated'under agitation while a small nitrogen stream is passed through the reaction mixture, according to the following time-temperature plan; two hours at C., two hours at C.; four hours at C.; four hours at C.; and 47 hours at200 C. During this period, a total of 150 g. of water is separated. Thereafter, the agitation is continued for 15 minutes at 200 C., under a vacuum of 20 torr [mm.Hg]. The clear, pale-yellow resin exhibits an acid number of 1.6 mg. KOH/g. and a hydroxyl number of 89.7 mg.KOH/g., corresponding to an average molecular weight of 1,840. The polyester is dissolved to form a 60 percent solution in a mixture of 7 parts by weight of xylene, 1 part by weight of butanol, 1 part by weight of ethyl acetate and 1 part by weight of ethyl glycol acetate.

RAISING THE ACID NUMBER OF A POLYESTER 1.2 percent of maleic anhydride (based on the pure polyester) is added to the melt of a polyester having a low acid number. After the added anhydride has been completely dissolved, the reaction mixtureis heated for one hour to 120 C., whereby the acid number of the polyester is increased by 8.56 mg. KOH/g.

The step of raising the acid number of a polyester is normally conducted in the melt. However, no difficulties are presented in conducting the same reaction in the solution of the-polyester under the above-mentioned reaction conditions. Care must be taken that the solvent does not contain any functional groups which can also react with the acid anhydride under'the indicated reaction conditions.

A. PREPARATION OF A VARNISH The solutions of the polyesters in suitable solvents, normally a mixture of xylene and a polar solvent, are mixed with a commercially available 55 percent solution of a melamine-formaldehyde condensate in a xylene-butanol mixture (1:1), or with a commercially available hexamethylol melamine derivative, in the desired solids ratio. In order to obtain a polyester melamine resin ratio of 7:3, 1 17 g. of a 60 percent solution of the polyesters is mixed, for example, with 54.5 g. of the above-mentioned melamine resinsolution.

In order to prepare an enamel, a clear varnish is pigmented with TiO in a binder pigment ratio of 2:1.

C. PRODUCTION AND TESTING OF THE COATING COMPOSITIONS For testing purposes, the clear varnish or the enamel is applied to metal test sheets and glass plate and baked. In order to lower the baking temperature, 0.5 percent p-toluenesulfonic acid (based on the total binder) is added to varnish solutions produced using polyesters of a low acid number. The coating thickness of the films being tested is, in all examples, 40-60 ;1.. The hardness test is conducted according to DIN 53,157. Elasticity is determined in accordance with the methods described hereinabove.

The results of Example 1-24 are compiled in Table l, in which the type of the melamine resin employed is likewise set forth. (In the column headed Type of Melamine Resin the symbol K means that a butylated melamine-formaldehyde condensate was employed, whereas HMM indicates the use of a hexamethylol melamine derivative.)

Similar results are obtained when employing as the binder, in place of a mixture of polyester and aminoplast as described hereinabove, a so-called plasticized amino-aldehyde resin, wherein the polyesters to be employed in accordance with the invention are added to the charge during the preparation of the aminoplast resins produced from substances containing amino and/or amido groups and aldehydes. Coatings having similar properties are also obtained by employing,,in place of the above-described mixture of aminoplast resins and polyesters, copolymers containing polymerized therein, additionally, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters and/or styrene, as wellas optionally small amounts of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, 5-35 percent be weight of N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide and/or the derivatives thereof etherifled on the N-methylol group.

Table 2 contains the test values of the coatings produced from the polyesters described in the following Comparative Examples 1-3.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 (Alkyd Resin No. 8531 69 from Deutsche Farbenzeitschrift" 20, 519 [1966]) v A mixture of %"/a% g. of trimethylol propane, 351 g. of neopentyl glycol, 498 g. of isophthalic acid, 292 g. of adipic acid, and 15 ml. of xylene was esterifled, following exactly the reaction conditions described on page 521 of the above-mentioned reference. Upon reaching an acid number of 28 mg. KOH/g, the charge was at once cooled with the aid of ice. In order to accelerate the cooling process, 500 g. of a mixture of 90 parts of xylene and-l0 parts of butanol was additionally carefully added using a reflux condenser. The exact maintaining of the reaction conditions, as mentioned above, and the measures taken to effect rapid cooling are necessary to prevent premature cross-linking. The thus-obtained solution was diluted with another 312 g. of the above-mentioned xylene/butanol mixture in order to produce a percent resin solution.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3 (Alkyd Resin from the Company Leaflet 1,4- Cyclohexanedimethanol" of Eastman Kodak Company ofJuly, 1965).

Under the conditions set forth on page 11 of the above-mentioned company leaflet, a polyester is produced from 160 g. of pelargonic acid, 300.6 g. of I phthalic anhydride, 70.0 g. of neopentyl glycol, 95.6 g. of 1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane, and 133.2 g. of pentaerythritol. The thus-obtained polyester exhibits an acid number of 7.6 mg. KOH/g. and is diluted with xylene to a 60 percent solution.

TABLE 1 Weight ratio Hardness Deep draw- Polyester Average polyester: Type of Baking according ability ace. Impact Example from molecular melamine melamine conditions, DIN 53, to DIN 53, depression No. [moi] weight l'CSiIlZTiOg resin Catalyst C./min. 157 [see.] 156 [mm.] [mm.]

3 E G 70:30z0 IIMM 0.5% pTS 130/30' 156 10 5 1 G1 70:30:50 I-IMM 0.5% pTS 130l30 139 7.0 3-4 1 1 5 74o s0=20=50 IIMM 0.5% pTS 1so 30' 142 3. 5 4 5 ADA :20:0 K 0.5% [)TS l30 7. 2 3

G 80:20z0 K 1.2% MA 130l30' 181 7. 4 3

1 70:30z0 IIMM 0.5% pTS 130l30 148 10 5 2 3 1,070 80:20:0 HMM 0.5% pTS 130l30' 136 10 5 ADA 80:20:50 IIMM 0.5% pTS 130l30' 128 10 5 g 70:30:0 IIMM 0.5 p'IS 130 30 173 10 5 3 6 3 1,910 80:20:0 IIMM 0.5% pTS 130/30' 10 5 3 ADA 80:20:50 IIMM 0.5% pIS 130l30' 1413 8.8 4-5 5 g g, 70:30:0 IIMM 0 5% p'IS 130/30 153 10 5 4 1,540 80:20z0 IIMM 0 5% p'IS 130/30' 14:) 10 5 80:20:50 IIMM 0 5% pIS 130l30 142 9. 1 5

ZgfaDA 1 PG 70:30:0 IIMM 0.5% pTS 130l30' 164 10 5 5 2 Gly 1,880 80:20:0 IIMM 0.5% p'IS 130l30 158 10 5 5 PSA 80:20:50 IIMM 0.5% ])TS 130l30 151 10 5 3 ADA 2 PG 70:3020 IIMM 0 5% pIS 130l30' 10 5 6 2 Gly 1, 760 80:20:0 IIMM 0 6% plb 130l30 100 10 5 5 PA 80:20:50 IIMM 0.5% p'IS 130l30 150 8.8 5

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalents of the following claims.

What is claimed is: l. A coating composition containing a two component aminoplast-polyester which consists essentially of 50-10 percent by weight of a methylol or etherified methylol aminoplast component and a 50-90 percent by weight of a mixture of polyesters having an average molecular weight between 600 and 3,000 and produced by the esterification to an acid number of l-7 of:

I. an alcohol mixture consisting essentially of 1. 1-33 molar percent of a polyol component of at least one aliphatic polyol having 3-4 hydroxyl groups and three to six carbon atoms, and 2. 99-67 molar percent of a diol component consisting of i one or both of ethylene glycol and 1,2-

propanediol, and

ii. -30 molar percent of the total amount of the diol component of another diol selected from the group consisting of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols or mixtures thereof whose hydroxyl groups are separated by two to eight carbon atoms and contain from zero to two oxygen atoms in the chain which are separated from each other by at least two carbon atoms, and

ll. an acid mixture consisting essentially of 1. 91-33 molar percent of a cyclic acid component selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid and functional acid derivatives thereof convertible to said ester with said alcohol mixture, and

TABLE 2 ("ontinucd Deep draw- Wcight Hardness ability ratio according according polyester: Baking to DIN to DIN Impact Comparative melamine Melamine conditions, 53,157 53,156 depression example resinzIiO resin Catalyst C./min. [sec] [mm.] 2 70:30:0 HMM 0.5% pTSA 130l30 28 9. 2 5 70=3o=0 K 0.5% pTSA 130l30 24 8,3 5 70:30:0 K 130l30 177 1.5 1 70:30:0 K 0.5% pISA l30/30 177 1. 5 1 3 70:30z0 HMM 0.5% pTSA 130/30 178 2,5 1 70:30:40 K 150l30 109 1. 1 70:30:40 HMM 150l30' 105 6,0 1

Abbreviations:

K =Melamine-formaldehyde condensate. HMM=Hexamethy1ol melamine derivative. pI SA= p-Toluenesulionic acid.

'g izfii glycol Br 2. 9-67 molar percent of an acyclic acid com- PG l,2-propanediol ponent of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid y s y f of four to twelve carbon atoms or functional PSA phthalic anhydnde ADA adipic acid acid derivative thereof convertible to said ester HMM hexamethylol melamine derivative with said alcohol mixture, K melamine-formaldehyde condensate PTS PMIueneSuKOHic acid 20 2. coating composition according to claim 1, MA maleic anhydrideh l d b wherein the polyesters have an average molecular (The polyester w ich is ow in aci is rought to a higher acid number by reaction with welght of between 800 f the indicated amount of maleic 3. A coating composition according to claim 2, f P" wherein the polyesters have an average molecular in accordance with the method described hereinbeforeJ 25 weight of between 1,000 and 2,000. D6 diethylene glycol 4. A coating composition according to claim 1, DPG dipropylene glycol wherein the cyclic acid component of the acid mixture contains four to six carbon atoms.

5. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic component of the acid mixture is adipic acid.

6. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic component of the acid mixture is phthalic acid anhydride.

7. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of 10-30 molar percent of the polyol component and 90-70 molar percent of a diol component consisting of more than 70 molar percent of ethylene glycol.

8. A coating composition according to claim 7, wherein the diol component consists entirely of ethylene glycol.

q, "'9. A coating composition according to claim 7,

wherein the diol component consists entirely of ethylene glycol and l,2-propanediol. i

.10. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of l-20 molar percent of the polyol component and 99-80 molar percent of a diol component consisting of more than molar percent of l,2-propanediol.

11. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely from 1,2- propanediol.

12. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely of 1,2- propanediol and ethylene glycol.

13. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely of 1,2- propanediol and diethylene glycol.

14. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely of 1,2- propanediol and dipropylene glycol.

15. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of l. l-25 molar percent of the polyol component and 2. 99-75 molar percent of a diol component consisting of:

i. a mixture of 70-30 molar percent of ethylene glycol and 30-70 molar percent of 1,2- propanediol, and up to 30 molar percent of the total diol mixture of another diol.

16. A coating composition according to claim 15, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of -20 molar percent of the polyol component and 95-80 molar percent of the diol component.

17. A coating composition according to claim 16, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of 5-l5 molar percent of the polyol component and 95-85 molar percent of the diol component.

18. A coating composition according to claim 15, wherein the diol mixture consists of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol.

19. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the acid mixture consists of -50 molar percent of the cyclic acid component and 30-50 molar percent of the acyclic acid component.

20. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyol component is glycerin.

21. A coating composition according to claim 2, wherein the acyclic component is adipic acid, the cyclic component is phthalic anhydride, the alcohol mixture consists of 10-30 molar percent of glycerine and -70 molar percent of a diol component selected from the group consisting of l,2-propanediol, and mixtures thereof with one of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol.

Patent No.

Inventor(s) FRANZ RIEMHOFER, et al.

Da d September 12, 1972 COLUMN 5, LINE COLUMN 5, LINE COLUMN 6, LINE 10-:

COLUMN 8, LINE 32:

COLUMN 8, LINE 43L COLUMN 9, LINE 5 COLUMN 12, LINE 4:

Signed and (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer 7 ORM PO-1050 (10-69) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE HEADING: Insert the Assignee of Record, namely CHEMISCHE WERKE HULS, AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, 4370 Marl, Germany After "three to", insert eighteen COLUMN 7, LINE 9: After "molar", insert amount of dicarbo'xylic acid which must be employed to COLUMN l6, CLAIM 5i After "both", insert hard "or" second occurrence, should read of "be" should read by After "preferably", insert three to twelve "80-0" should read 30-0 "end use between" should read preferably between "us" should read use "harness" should read hardness "l/8 7/8 2/3" should read 257 "cyclic" should read acyclic sealed this 25th day of December 1973.

RENE D; I'EGTMEYER Acting Comrunissioner' of Patents UsCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u,s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: l9" o-aas-azu. 

2. 99-67 molar percent of a diol component consisting of i one or both of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol, and ii. 0-30 molar percent of the total amount of the diol component of another diol selected from the group consisting of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols or mixtures thereof whose hydroxyl groups are separated by two to eight carbon atoms and contain from zero to two oxygen atoms in the chain which are separated from each other by at least two carbon atoms, and II. an acid mixture consisting essentially of
 2. 9-67 molar percent of an acyclic acid component of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of four to twelve carbon atoms or functional acid derivative thereof convertible to said ester with said alcohol mixture.
 2. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyesters have an average molecular weight of between 800 and 2,500.
 2. 99-75 molar percent of a diol component consisting of: i. a mixture of 70-30 molar percent of ethylene glycol and 30-70 molar percent of 1,2-propanediol, and up to 30 molar percent of the total diol mixture of another diol.
 3. A coating composition according to claim 2, wherein the polyesters have an average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 2,000.
 4. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic acid component of the acid mixture contains four to six carbon atoms.
 5. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic component of the acid mixture is adipic acid.
 6. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic component of the acid mixture is phthalic acid anhydride.
 7. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of 10-30 molar percent of the polyol component and 90-70 molar percent of a diol component consisting of more than 70 molar percent of ethylene glycol.
 8. A coating composition according to claim 7, wherein the diol component consists entirely of ethylene glycol.
 9. A coating composition according to claim 7, wherein the diol component consists entirely of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol.
 10. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of 1-20 molar percent of the polyol component and 99-80 molar percent of a diol component consisting of more than 70 molar percent of 1,2-propanediol.
 11. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely from 1,2-propanediol.
 12. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely of 1,2-propanediol and ethylene glycol.
 13. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely of 1,2-propanediol and diethylene glycol.
 14. A coating composition according to claim 10, wherein the diol component consists entirely of 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol.
 15. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of
 16. A coating composition according to claim 15, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of 5-20 molar percent of the polyol component and 95-80 molar percent of the diol component.
 17. A coating composition according to claim 16, wherein the alcohol mixture consists of 5-15 molar percent of the polyol component and 95-85 molar percent of the diol component.
 18. A coating composition according to claim 15, wherein the diol mixture consists of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propanediol.
 19. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the acid mixture consists of 70-50 molar percent of the cyclic acid component and 30-50 molar percent of the acyclic acid component.
 20. A coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyol component is glycerin.
 21. A coating composition according to claim 2, wherein the acyclic component is adipic acid, the cyclic component is phthalic anhydride, the alcohol mixture consists of 10-30 molar percent of glycerine and 90-70 molar percent of a diol component selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, and mixtures thereof with one of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol. 